Bahrain’s aluminium wire exports continued to gain momentum in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments rising significantly compared with the corresponding periods of 2025 and 2024. The country exported 80,895 tonnes of aluminium wire in Q2 2026, taking its total shipments during the first half of the year to 143,518 tonnes. The export data covers aluminium wire under HS code 7605, excluding stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and similar products, electrically insulated wires and strings for musical instruments. Export volume registers strong Y-o-Y growth Comparing the quarterly figures, Bahrain’s aluminium wire export volume increased by 23.76 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2 2026, against 65,366 tonnes shipped during Q2 2025. The latest quarterly volume also marked a considerable rise from Q2...
India-based KEC International Limited is pushing ahead with Phase II of its aluminium conductor capacity expansion, even as a difficult second quarter dragged consolidated profit down. The Q2 FY27 investor presentation, dated November 2, lists the expansion as underway in its Cables & Conductors business, one of the few segments that grew in the quarter. The update comes over a year after KEC’s commissioning of the first phase of the plant in Vadodara in February 2025, marking an investment of about INR 600 million (USD 6.33 million). The company has not disclosed the capacity to be added, the investment or a completion date. Explore AL Circle’s report ALuminium Wires & Cables - Insights & Forecast to 2030 for insights into aluminium applications, industry developments and opportunities...
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ZTE apparently wasn't done announcing smartphones this week after yesterday's unveiling of the Axon. While that particular model is destined exclusively for the US market, at least for now, the new Blade D6 will get a more international launch. Traditionally ZTE has used the Blade sub-brand for mid-range offerings that are very good value for money. And while we can't comment on the latter in this case (since pricing information isn't available yet), the Blade D6 certainly fits the mid-range nicely. It comes with a 5-inch 720p IPS touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, an 88-degree wide-angle 5 MP selfie snapper, 4G LTE, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, dual-SIM functionality, and a 2,200 mAh battery. It's powered by MediaTek's 64-bit MT6735 SoC with a 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU and...
Specialized has revamped its popular Allez aluminium road bike for 2016 with aerodynamic features inspired by its Venge carbon aero road bike. Photos from a US Specialized dealer launch, shared by two US bike shops on social media, have revealed the new design direction for the latest generation Allez. The new Allez features an aero shaped seat tube and seatpost, and following the trend with aero road bikes, a smaller rear triangle with the seatstays meeting the seat tube well below the top tube. The seat tube curves around the rear wheel to improve aerodynamics. The current Allez takes styling cues from Specialized’s Tarmac model, this new bike shows a new direction for the aluminium model. This new Allez Sprint is also the first new road bike we’ve seen equipped with SRAM's brand new...
Somewhere along the line, you’ve probably acquired at least a basic understanding of the benefits of lightweight wheels; their contribution to a low curb weight is the least of it. By reducing unsprung mass – that is, whatever mass isn’t kept aloft by the suspension – engineers can improve a vehicle’s response, handling, and steering feel. Furthermore, the reduction of rotational inertia that comes with lightweight wheels can allow for better acceleration and efficiency, to an extent. Of course, aluminum alloy wheels have been the de facto lightweight alternative to steel for a number of decades now, and we dare say that the material has become the new norm. These days, carbon fiber has replaced aluminum as the more appealing, ideal composition for lightweight wheels. Alas, carbon fiber...
Ford Motor Co. has begun offering discounts that can exceed $10,000 on its new aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup, which has been losing sales and market share this year as the automaker works to build inventory on dealer lots. The company’s website offers “up to $10,029 in total savings” on a 2015 F-150 XLT SuperCab 4X4 with the luxury chrome or sport package in some U.S. regions. That model comes with a discount of $7,050 in other areas, according to Ford.com. U.S. sales slid 8.9 percent last month for Ford’s F-Series pickups, its top-selling line and most profitable vehicles. The truck’s share of the big-pickup market fell to 28 percent in June from 33 percent a year earlier, according to researcher Autodata Corp. Ford blamed tight inventory caused by the conversion of two plants to build...
C.R. Laurence announced the opening of its new U.S. Aluminum Manufacturing and Distribution Headquarters in Waxahachie, Texas. This new 350,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility serves as a centralized operations anchor that allows U.S. Aluminum to stock larger inventories, reduce lead times, and improve service throughout the U.S. Aluminum network across North America, company officials report. According to a company release, the expanded central production, distribution and inventory capacities, coupled with fabrication services available locally, enable customers to meet project requirements faster than ever.
Aluminum premiums in Asia have plummeted to $90-100 per tonne from $380 per tonne early this year. Will lower premiums inhibit outflow of aluminum semis from China? SMM sees little immediate impact on Chinese exports. Given saturated domestic market, exports will remain the way out for Chinese producers. Besides, despite lower premiums overseas, exports remain profitable, partly due to export rebate enjoyed by semis and removal of provisional export duty on some aluminum products. China’s monthly exports of unwrought aluminum and aluminum semis have held around 400,000 tonnes this year, much higher than the same period last year, customs data showed. The country exported 450,000 tonnes of unwrought aluminum and aluminum semis in June, according to China Customs.
Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) has launched a major campaign to promote polished Xlite forged aluminium commercial vehicle wheels in response to news that a major manufacturer has phased these products out of its portfolio. The exclusive Xlite distributor for the UK and Europe states that the polished forged aluminium finish remains “popular” and, as sales in this segment are growing, the rival manufacturer’s exit from this business presents it with an opportunity to grow market share. “Forged aluminium wheels come in three progressive finishes – machined, polished and premium, which in our case is called Xbrite – and our share of sales across these different options is largely equal,” comments MWSD managing director John Ellis. “Our market research shows that many operators...
Just in time for the prime summer months, Galena Brewing Company has expanded its packaging lineup to include three beers in Rexam 16 oz. cans. Anna Belle's IPA is a ruby beer with a burst of hop flavors and aromas paired with a solid malt backbone and a clean and pleasant bitterness that lingers on the palate. Farmer's Blonde Ale is a light ale with a crisp and refreshing flavor and a brilliant white head. Fevre River Ale Hefeweizen is a classic Bavarian style wheat beer with a medium to heavy mouth feel and refreshing taste that comes from banana and clove overtones. "Beer is born in metal tanks so it just made sense for us to use a package made of the same material, one that inherently protects it from its main enemies – light and oxygen," said Warren Bell, owner, Galena Brewing...
Aluminium and high-strength steel remain the top alternatives as the automotive industry’s material choices for lightweighting, says Dr. Jin Hou of Sapa Technology. Sapa, the world leader in aluminium solutions, had been invited by the organizers of the Asia Automotive Lightweight Procurement Symposium in Shanghai to present and discuss lightweighting with aluminium. Hou’s presentation covered automotive aluminium solutions and high-performance crash alloys. After listening to the technical presentations, Hou says aluminium and high-strength steel “still appear to be the top alternatives” as automotive’s material choices for lightweighting, while interest in magnesium and composite materials seems to be fading. Sapa’s presentation was well received. Discussion topics included Sapa’s work...
Chief Automotive Technologies will show NACE | CARS 2015 attendees how easy aluminum repair can be with the right equipment. NACE | CARS 2015 takes place on July 21-25 at Cobo Center in Detroit. "Many collision repair professionals are still in the learning phase with aluminum, and the metal's use in car and truck bodies continues to evolve," says Bob Holland, director of collision in North and South America for Chief parent company Vehicle Service Group (VSG). "That's why Chief's NACE | CARS 2015 objectives are to educate attendees about aluminum and help them upgrade their shops with the newest advanced aluminum welders and shop tools." NACE | CARS 2015 attendees can see Chief's latest aluminum joining equipment in action during live MIG/MAG welding and riveting demos on the trade show...
CPG Building Products, which comprises the AZEK and TimberTech brands of premium exterior products, introduces Impression Rail, aluminum railing that offers premium wrought iron aesthetics—but without the labor or expense. The railing's classic, crafted style in sleek black creates a striking effect when used with the AZEK or TimberTech expansive palette of deck colors. The versatility of numerous design options truly sets this rail system apart from others in the marketplace. Impression Rail features a unique system installs easily and intuitively, as a stand-alone aluminum rail or upgraded with the integration of AZEK and TimberTech's premium composite top rails and post sleeves. Impression Rail's lightweight profiles and best-in-class installation method will also save time and labor...
While companies like Ford are helping to bring carbon fiber wheels to the masses, the finicky production process and steep costs means it is likely years still before we see more cars adopt the technology. The good news is that a new wheel design combining carbon fiber with more traditional aluminum can provide much of the strength and weight-saving benefits of pure carbon wheels at an “attractive” price, say the developers of the technology. Behind the new aluminum-carbon wheels are German firms ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components and Maxion Wheels. ThyssenKrupp is a leader in carbon fiber applications and lightweight materials while Maxion is the world’s largest wheel manufacturer. Their new aluminum-carbon wheels are said to be as much as 40 percent lighter than forged aluminum wheels,...
Rexam has partnered with local craft brewer, Concrete Cow, to launch the brand’s first ever beer in cans. Branching out from their bottled beer portfolio, the Concrete Cow MK IPA cans have been designed by Rexam and are inspired by the local Milton Keynes area, which is home to Concrete Cow, the famous Concrete Cow monuments* and Rexam’s largest UK plant. Rexam’s design experts, based in the Luton Design Centre that opened last September, worked closely with Concrete Cow for the rebranding exercise which saw collaboration from the initial briefing, through to concept development and finally on-can design proofing and production. Depicting the Milton Keynes skyline, the striking can designs incorporate structural and detailed drawings of the iconic Xscape snow dome and the Milton Keynes...
Aleris announced today that its board of directors has appointed Sean Stack to the position of chief executive officer. Stack most recently served as executive vice president and CEO, Aleris North America. With his appointment, Stack was also elected to the Aleris Board of Directors. Scott Graves, Aleris director and managing director and Head of Credit Strategies for Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. has been elected non-executive chairman of the Aleris Board. A fund managed by Oaktree is a majority shareholder of Aleris. Both appointments will take effect immediately. Steve Demetriou, who has served as chairman and chief executive officer since the company's inception in 2004 has made the decision to leave Aleris to pursue a new leadership opportunity. Demetriou will work closely with...
Having proved that ultrasound degassing of molten aluminium alloys is cleaner, greener and cheaper than current methods, a team of scientists from Brunel University London working within a European consortium has now taken the breakthrough a step further. De-gassing the melts of aluminium alloys is a vital process otherwise the resulting solid metals end up being highly porous and often rejected for further use. Project lead Prof Dmitry Eskin of the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology explains: “The most common current method, argon rotary degassing, is energy intensive, involves rotating brittle parts and expensive argon gas. “Having proved that ultrasound is cheaper, greener and just as efficient we wanted to look at achieving a continuous process that would allow us to...
A New $470,000 offshore rescue vessel has arrived at the Marine Rescue Cottage Point unit, boosting the emergency capability of Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on Northern Sydney waters. MR Cottage Point Unit Commander Paul Millar said members have been out in force to inspect the keenly-anticipated Cottage Point 30 and familiarise themselves with their new rescue vessel. The 11.5m vessel was built by Sailfish Catamarans in Alstonville, inland from Ballina on the NSW North Coast. After passing its sea trials on the Richmond River at Ballina in mid-June, it was trucked south to Sydney and was launched at Brooklyn where MR Cottage Point crew members took over and steered it home. “The Sailfish is the largest twin-hulled vessel in the Marine Rescue fleet,” UC Millar said. “Its eight-tonne...
Sapa has reached an agreement with the workers to end production at the Perfialsa extrusion plant in Arteixo, Spain, on September 30, 2015. The company announced its intention to cease operations of the plant one month ago, and after a peaceful negotiation process, an agreement has been reached. All employees at the plant will be affected by collective dismissal. "We would like to express our appreciation to all Perfialsa employees for the responsibility and the professionalism shown during the entire process," says Hermano Gouveia, managing director of Sapa Profiles Iberia. "We think that the agreement is satisfactory for all parties and we are pleased to have come to a conclusion." John Thuestad, executive vice president responsible for Sapa's Extrusion Europe business area, says he is...
Hal Aluminium Mexico, dedicated to the casting of aluminum and manufacture of automotive parts, will open a second plant in Puerto Interior which will offer 400 vacancies including industrial engineering, robotics and mechanical engineers. The coordinator of recruitment and selection of staff at Hal Aluminium Mexico, Amy Ramirez said that they will create about 400 new jobs with this new project at various operational levels whereas now they employ about 200 persons. The automotive sector company participated during the work day organized by the Directorate General Economics on July 3, 2015, an event in which 50 companies offered more than 1000 job vacancies. The Deputy Director of Employment Promotion of Leon, Pilar Hernandez Camacho, reported that from January to June the agency has...
